15 TOP TIPS for Ueno, Tokyo – Ueno Park, Yanaka Ginza, Kuramae & More!

15 TOP TIPS for Ueno, Tokyo – Ueno Park, Yanaka Ginza, Kuramae & More!

(bright music) – Hey guys, welcome back to Tokyo Cheapo. I’m your host Patricia, and today we are going to
be exploring the Ueno area. So Ueno is a 25-minute train
ride from Shinjuku Station, super accessible from
different parts of Tokyo, and it’s got a Shinkansen that’ll take you all the
way up to Northern Japan. It’s got a good mix of
both tradition and modern, and also tourist and local spots. So I feel like it’s a
good place for everybody. That said, there’s so
many things to see and do, it can be kind of overwhelming, so we have gone ahead
and made a list of things for you guys to check out. Let’s get to it. (playful music) (relaxing music) This is Ameyoko Shopping Street. It’s actually right by Ueno
Station in front of the station, and what I love about this
place is it’s just pure chaos. There’s all these shops and restaurants all packed into one different,
like, (clangs) chaos. Chaos (laughs) all packed into one street. And honestly, it kind of reminds
me of China in a good way. The vendors here are
very open to negotiation. So if you’re good at that, you can actually get a really good deal. So Ameyoko started as a black
market during World War II, but since then it’s transformed, and now it’s this place for locals to shop for
food, clothes, whatever. It’s a really good place
to buy things for cheap, especially if you’re good at negotiating. I’ve been here countless times, and I noticed that they
have this weird obsession with like military wear, military clothes. If you know why that is, please let us know in the comments. Ameyoko Street during the daytime is completely different
from when it’s at night. I mean, the stores are still the same, but the lights turn on,
you see the chochins, and all these Japanese
salarymen come to the izakayas and sit on the streets. It’s a vibe. I love the vibe here. It’s a vibe. Also there’s a lot of, like,
streets like this in Tokyo, but I feel like here, you’ve actually got locals
enjoying the atmosphere too. I couldn’t help myself, you guys. Ueno has a lot of street food, and I got myself a little candy stick, which leads me to the food scene in Ueno. They have lots of different
like restaurants, food streets, and right behind me you can actually see people sitting outside and eating. So Ueno has a lot of
outdoor seating areas, so it’s good when the weather’s nice. You can sit outside,
drink with the locals, you know, enjoy the weather. It’s got that local vibe. Of course, there are
tourists in this area, but compared to somewhere like Shinjuku, it feels way more local. So with that being said, I’m gonna eat my candy now. – [Shah] How is it? – Very sweet. Ooh! I have not had one of these in a while. – [Shah] This is how
you eat candy in Japan. – Oh my god. – [Shah] I’ve never seen
somebody eat it like a kebab. (Patricia laughing) – I’m skipping levels. You’ve probably seen people have like a full meal at Ameyoko Street, which is why we’re not
gonna be doing that. Ueno Park is a nice pocket of
nature right by the station, and it covers a lot of ground. It starts in Ueno Station and then goes all the way
until Nishinippori, I believe, and there’s lots to see and do. This road that we’re walking by right now actually has a lot of
different hydrangea plants. So during the season, you’ll see lots of hydrangea flowers, and in the springtime, you’ll see a lot of cherry blossom trees. This is a really popular
spot for locals and tourists, everybody, to come and do hanami. So they’ll have, like,
picnic sheets and whatnot, but yeah, lots of nature. And they have a number of museums, which makes it perfect for families. Ueno is also home to a lot of shrines like this one behind us, which is the Hanazono Inari Shrine. This is where you pray for en, which is basically the connection between you and another person. And that can be your teacher, a partner, family member, workmate. It can be anyone. So if you wanna increase your chances of meeting some good people in your life, you come here and pray
to the gods for that. And this is in Ueno Park along
with Ueno Toshogu Shrine. So basically, Ueno Park has everything. It’s great for everyone. This is Aki-Oka Artisan, which is also known as Artisan Street. Basically, they have a
ton of Japan-made crafts and craft stores. So I feel like this is a really
cool place to buy souvenirs. Of course, you can buy souvenirs at many different places, like, you know, I don’t know, Sensoji or Don Quijote, but here you get things that are made by locals, local artisans. And some things that you can find here, you can’t really find other places. And it is under a train track, so sometimes you’ll hear
the tracks like this. Things that you’ll find here is actually from all over Japan. So I think I saw a store that sold things from Fukuoka or Wakayama. And as you can see, there’s just a bunch
of different varieties of things that they sell. Bags, silverware, accessories, like something for everyone. It literally says (speaks
in foreign language) which translates to ‘the
town where you make things’. We’re here at Kuramae Station, which is only about a
15-minute train ride from Ueno. It’s a very quaint neighborhood that’s got a lot of creative energy, and it’s in between different hotspots like Tokyo Skytree, Ueno, Asakusa. They’re known for their trendy
coffee shops and coffee, which, speaking of,
let’s go get some coffee. We’re at this place called Jiyucho, which is basically a store with a concept you have never seen before. It’s really cool and actually will make for
a really good souvenir, and here’s why. So here they have three different options. You can either do one that is you get a little poem written by the owner and a little, like, cup of tea or coffee. The second option, which
is the most popular option, is that you can write a
letter to your future self. This makes for a really cool souvenir or just something to do for yourself. A lot of people actually come
here for the second option. So you write it, and they will
send it to you a year later. So a year later, you’ll get your letter. And they also send this
overseas, which is really cool. So it doesn’t matter where
you’re from, you can do this. The third option is if you want to just enjoy the atmosphere. You know, you want to grab a
coffee and just read the books, sit in this peaceful environment, you can do that too. We personally went for the first option because we have lots to show you today. But it’s really nice because basically they’ve given us this tray with a cup of tea and this little poem. It comes in this envelope
so you can take this home. And what’s really cool that the staff member told me just now is the person who owns this place is actually a poet himself. So he has all his poetry written and placed all over the room, so you can find his little poetry books. But you can basically take his poem that he’s written for you home. So the staff member just kindly explained how the letter system works if you want to send yourself
a letter a year later. So you’re gonna get an envelope, and you’re also gonna
get four different cards. She was explaining that sometimes when you’re writing a letter it can be hard to be inspired
or know what to write. So that’s why they’ve got,
like, different themes, like poems with different themes, to kind of get your
creative juices flowing. And they’ve also got a little card, a reflection card, so you can, there’s questions, and you can, you know, answer these
questions that they have. I think this one would be the one I would look the most forward to. And then they’ve just got a postcard, so you write the letter, and this is a bonus. You can actually use this colorful card to write to a friend. And at the very end, they’ll compile all your papers, put them in this nice little envelope, and seal it with a fancy stamp, and you’ll write the date. And a year later, you will get this envelope. Isn’t that such a cool concept? You can write yourself a letter, or a friend a letter, that you can get a year later, and you’ll probably even forget about it. So imagine you’re sitting at home one day in your home country, and
then you get a letter, and you’re like, “Crap, I miss this. Let’s go back to Japan.” That’s probably what’s gonna happen. There are hundreds of things
to see, eat, or do around Ueno, let alone all of Tokyo, and we know planning can get overwhelming. So if you need some help,
Klook has you covered. Booking things in Japan can
normally be quite difficult, but you’ll be able to browse through activities all across Japan in your home language and easily use your
international credit card to book those memorable
moments you’re looking for. Wanna experience wearing a kimono or how about seeing a
sumo wrestler in action? If traditional activities are your thing, then why not try some glass making or learn about the history of Asakusa? If you’re a subculture fan or an otaku, there’s something for you too. Klook has regular flash
sales and seasonal discounts so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for those on their website. Check out the link in
the description below to get started straight away on planning and booking your tickets
on your PC or phone. We’ve just popped into
this little coffee shop that also has like craft. It’s really interesting. And I got myself a little
cold brew because it is hot. Today, it is hot. Ah, that’s nice. But this is really fitting actually because this place
actually in the Edo period was known for it’s like
warehouses and community centers, but then over the years, it’s kind of blossomed
into this trendy area that has lots of cafes
and creativity artisans. So this place that we’re at, Yukizna, kind of like, I feel like
has both of the things that makes up Kuramae:
creativity and coffee. So you can just grab a coffee and they have these little fabric pieces, colorful pieces set up for you so you can craft whatever you want, craft something you like, and then keep it moving. From the Kuramae station
to this coffee shop, we actually came across
several coffee shops, not just one. So if you like coffee, then maybe Kuramae is for you. Forget bar hopping,
let’s go coffee hopping. There’s another one. Let’s get another. I’m kidding, I’m kidding, okay? Guys, we had to. We walked past the store being like, “No, we don’t need another coffee,” and then we came across
something that said “cute financier cheese pepper.” Have you ever seen a financier with cheese and pepper inside? Neither have we, so we decided to get it. They also had carrot cake. I feel like carrot cake can
be kind of hard find in Japan. Not only did they have
the original carrot cake, but also a chocolate one. And there’s a lot of vegan
and gluten-free options for a lot of the products. We’re gonna start with the
pepper cheese financier. That is surprisingly good. – What? Really?
– Yeah. So the outside is like
a regular financier, but the inside has like
a peppery cheesy flavor ’cause it’s got a paste inside. That is really nice. If you like, like, cheesy, you know that kind of like
the sour taste of a cheese? I think there’s like people who are not gonna like this though. It’s like you either like it or you don’t. The pepper compliments the sweetness. It’s not too sweet because of the pepper. Just like us, if you see
anything unique like this, just try it. You never know, really. You might like it. Do you wanna try it? Shah’s over here like, “Hmm?” – I was so confused.
– Right? It’s confusing. But it’s not bad, is it? – It’s really good.
– Yeah. – It’s actually really good.
– Right. We’re gonna move on with the carrot cake. So carrot cake is really good. I love carrot cake. Shah personally thinks that anybody who doesn’t like carrot cake basically has the taste
buds of a 2-year-old. – [Shah] How can you not like carrot cake? Carrot cake’s the best cake. – This one, in particular,
it seems very moist. I’m just gonna go for it. Mmm! I like it. Rating out of 10, maybe an eight? I want some more icing, though. (laughs) Walnuts, raisins, lots of carrots, and I don’t know what
this is, I’m gonna eat it. – [Shah] This is also
vegan and gluten-free. – Pineapple?
– What? There’s pineapple in it?
– Uh-huh. I had my little sweet treat, my coffee, now let’s keep exploring. We are now at Yanaka Cemetery, and if you’re wondering, “Why are you recommending
a cemetery to go to?” Well, it’s actually not
as morbid as it seems. This is a really nice, peaceful walk on the way to Yanaka Ginza, and this is actually a
cherry blossom viewing spot. So all of these trees
turn into cherry blossoms, and it’s a really nice place because there’s not too many people. So you get great pictures,
a great experience, and it’s a lot more local, I think. And you’re in Yanaka. Right now, we’re at this place
called Yanaka Sakuragi Atari, which is where they have
this kind of like block that has a lot of Showa Era buildings that still remained, only they’ve kind of modernized it and made it into different breweries. There’s a bakery there
and some other shops. Right now, we are in the brewery section. So this is a little restaurant slash bar where they sell like
very local beer on top. So I’m gonna try one. So I just got myself the craft beer. This one is the Yanaka Weizen. I got it ’cause it’s the sweetest beer. But I noticed that on the menu, it actually has English and Chinese, so it’s very English-friendly, and I believe the staff
member who works here also speaks English. So very foreigner-friendly. With that said, I’m gonna
drink this beer now. Kanpai! Just to give you an idea
of where we are exactly, this is about a 10-minute
walk-ish away from Ueno Park. On the other side, not
the Ueno Station side. So very accessible. And this is actually on
the way to Yanaka Ginza. So if you’re going from Ueno Park and all the way to Yanaka
Ginza, stop by here. What I noticed about this place and just like this block in general is that they’ve definitely modernized it since the Showa Era, like they’ve got taps now, there’s an iPad that you can order from, but they’ve left that like kind of charm about the Showa Era, like the different decorations
that they have on the walls, or, you know, the certain, like the doors are
still the sliding doors, which I love that feel
that they’ve left to it. And if you walk further
down this neighborhood, you’ll notice like there’s
certain houses or designs, store signs that are still very Showa Era. – [Shah] We like to drink with Pato ’cause Pato is our mate- – No.
– and when we drink with Pato, she gets it down in 8
– No. No. This is a professional channel. – [Shah] 7, 6, 5. – Shah’s bullying me again.
– This isn’t bullying. You wanted it. You asked to come here. And I said yes. I agreed. You should be saying
I’m the best producer. (Patricia laughing) – Ta-dan! It is Q&A time
where I answer questions that you guys left in
the previous question. Videos. Videos. Okay, so somebody asks,
instead of a tempura diner, what should they try in Kamakura? I feel like because Kamakura
is closer to the sea, although they do have seafood in Tokyo, why not try some seafood? They’re especially known for their shirasu over on that side. So try their seafood, you might like it. Next, somebody asks, do you have any recommendations
about where to go in Tokyo when it’s Halloween? This is where I have to let you guys know that Halloween is celebrated
a little bit differently here than they are maybe in the
western world or other countries. Shibuyan Halloween was crazy. Unfortunately, it’s not the same now, now that they have all
these police officers. But if you wanna have a good
time going out at night, maybe go to a club or check out Tokyo Cheapo event listings. Back to the video. Behind me is Yanaka Ginza, which is the other side of Tokyo that you’ll probably wanna see. Of course, on your guidebooks, you’ll see like Shibuya,
Shinjuku, whatnot, but this will give you
the more local experience. And I think it’s actually worth it. Stepping into here is kinda like stepping into a time machine. You go back into the Showa Era. They’ve got very like local stores. They do have some like, you know, newer, modernized stores as well. But you can get some really
cool souvenirs from here that are kind of affordable
unlike other places. We’re specifically on
the hunt for menchi katsu and also this yakiimu store
that has really nice yakiimu. I’m hungry, ready to eat, so let’s go in. So they’ve got things like this that you can bring back home as souvenirs, and it’s really affordable. These chopstick rests are 200 yen. If you go to like a really
popular tourist spot, it’s probably gonna come up to 600 yen. So they’ve got lots of stores like this that are very local and
have like random things, like what are these wooden spoons? I don’t know, but they’re only 150 yen, so makes for a great souvenir. – [Shah] Eat cereal. – Eat cereal with your
wooden spoon from Japan. How classy. Another significance about
this Yanaka Ginza Street is that they love cats. Like you’ll see cats everywhere. In fact, there’s something
called Seven Lucky Cats where they have different cat statues around this entire street and you have to look for them. I actually see one right
now on top of the roof. So Shah told me about
this place called Suzuki that has really nice menchi katsu, but unfortunately, they were out. So I got their leftovers, which I still am really excited about. This is a nasuno menchi katsu. So deep fried nasu, and I love eggplants. I saw in front of their store, they have lots of pictures of geinojin, or like famous Japanese people, so it must be really good. Itadakimasu! What the? It’s got the menchi inside the nasu. – What the heck? Eh?
– What the heck? That’s so bomb. I’ve never seen it before. Oh, it’s so good. Juicy nasu, and the inside, we’ve got the meaty texture, meaty flavor. The crunch of the… I get my money. What is this called? (Patricia and Shah speaking
in foreign language) – Oh, it’s so nice, and
it’s kind of warm too. I don’t know why. Now you guys know, Suzuki, come and get nasu and regular menchi, but just come before it gets closed. We have made it to the sweet potato shop, which is actually called
Mitsu-imo Kenkyujo, and it basically specializes
in all things sweet potato. America could never. I got my hands on the
slightly salted potato chips. This is what it looks like. It’s really interesting, actually. They kind of deep fried these
little slices of sweet potato. Yeah, I was craving something savory, so let’s give it a try. Hmm. These are one of those things
you can just keep going. It’s just like airy, crispy. And they added the salt
so it’s nice and salty. So as I mentioned, this place specializes in
sweet potato in general. So they not only have
little chips like this, but they have the actual sweet potato that you can get by itself. And with sweet potatoes,
not many people realize that the Japanese sweet potatoes come in different, like, textures depending on what you like. So make sure you ask the staff what you, you know, what they recommend and whatnot. Shah also told me that the
matcha-o latte that they have pairs really well with the
yakiimo that they have. So make sure when you come, you try both of them – [Shah] Or you’re doing it wrong. – Or you’re doing it wrong.
– Or you’re doing it wrong. – Ueno has so much to do, but that doesn’t mean
you have to get stuck in Ameyoko Street or Ueno Park. Head over to Kuramae or come down to Yanaka Ginza. There is so much to see, and each little neighborhood
has like a different vibe. So I feel like you can just walk on over to all these close neighborhoods and have a day. Heck, you can even walk down to Akihabara. It’s only like 30 minutes down the road. Plus you get to walk down
these little neighborhoods. So with that said, let us
know which spot you like best, like, subscribe, comment,
all that fun stuff, and I will see you next time.

Ueno Guide – https://tokyocheapo.com/locations/east-tokyo/ueno/
Tokyo Cheapo Events Listing – https://tokyocheapo.com/events/
Klook – https://www.klook.com/?aid=513&aff_adid=947706&aff_pid=&aff_sid=&utm_medium=affiliate-alwayson&utm_source=non-network&utm_campaign=513&utm_term=&utm_content=&aff_klick_id=89526363264-513-947706-627bab2

Patricia – https://www.instagram.com/whatthepato || @whatthepato
Shot & produced by @Anocam

To put it bluntly, you can’t get bored in Ueno. Enjoy multiple days here without bleeding our wallets dry. You’ve probably heard about the usual the stuff: That famous park! All the museums! Well, there’s all that, and more.

== CHAPTERS ==
00:00 Intro
00:37 1 – Ameyoko Street
01:32 2 – Come to Ameyoko at night
01:58 3 – Get some street food
03:00 4 – Ueno Park
03:38 5 – Hanazono Inari Shrine & Ueno Toshogu Shrine
04:04 6 – Aki-Oka Artisan
04:57 7 – Kuramae – history, creativity & coffee
05:16 8 – Jiyucho
07:52 Need some help booking experiences?
08:43 9 – Yukizna – Crafts & Coffee
09:36 10 – Cafe hopping – Cheese and black pepper financier anyone?
11:30 11 – Yanaka Cemetery
11:55 12 – Ueno Sakuragi Atari
13:56 Answering your comments/questions
14:43 13 – Yanaka Ginza
16:05 14 – Niku no Suzuki
17:07 15 – Mitsu-imo Kenkyujo – A sweet potato paradise
18:11 Outro

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★★★ Credits ★★★
Intro sequence by the most talented Peter Laugesen : http://pjlaugesen.com

Creative commons images used in the intro:
* Gundam Robot Statue in Odaiba https://www.flickr.com/photos/picsoflife/8154554047
* Japanese Salaryman Asleep https://www.flickr.com/photos/istolethetv/
* Domestic Cat https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Alvesgaspar
* Saraninman https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:%E7%AB%B9%E4%B8%8B%E7%AB%A0%E5%A4%AA%E9%83%8E
* Wild Cat http://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/34298
* Ginza Holiday Promenade https://www.flickr.com/photos/yoshikazut/
* Shibuya Crossing https://www.flickr.com/photos/31029865@N06/